December 14, 2017
Fort Gay, W. Va. — This past Friday and Saturday the BJM Key Player Shootout was held at Tolsia High school with four Varsity games and two Junior Varsity games were played and all of the benefits went to the Barbara J. Morrone Memorial Scholarship fund.
Both of the high schools that we cover participated along with Wayne, George Washington and Spring Valley to make this annual event a huge success.
Barbara J. Morrone was a pioneer in Girls athletics. She coached various sports, including softball, volleyball, basketball, track and boys soccer. Many times, she coached for little or no pay. Her reward was the impact she had on the hundreds of athletes lives she had contact with.
Coach Morrone believed that girls deserved the same opportunities as boys in athletics. She stood strong for her beliefs and was a great role model for players and coaches. She had a clearer vision then most she knew that the important things in life are the people we touch in our walk. She saw that all along and devoted many hours to starting leagues for girls and coaching multiple sports at a time if needed.
Academics played a major part in Coach Barbara Morrone’s life, as well. She went back to Marshall to get her teaching degree while raising six children at home. She stressed academic excellence to her kids and was a role model to them as well as her athletes and students. She pusses people to do more then they thought possible and to have goals in sports and in life.
The Barbara J. Morrone Scholarship began in August 2007 in memory of an amazing lady. The Scholarship will be given annually to a deserving graduating female. The recipient will exemplify excellence in both academics and athletics. The Scholarship will aid in giving the recipient the opportunity to carry on the fire and spirit that wS alive and well in the life and career of Coach Barbara Morrone.
On Saturday afternoon in the consolation game it was Wayne taking care of county rival Tolsia by the score of 63-35 at Rebel Arena.
Freshman Julie Boone led the Rebels with 14 points and Senior Kayla Jude tallied 11 points. Mariah Finley 8 points, Marlee Marcum 2 points, Sarah Jude and Elizabeth Asbury 1 point each.
BJM Key Player Shootout Recap
Friday night Varsity
George Washington 57 Wayne 54
Lawrence Co. 51 Tolsia 35
Saturday afternoon Junior Varsity
Tolsia 41 Lawrence Co. 35
Spring Valley 62 Wayne 25
Consolation Game Varsity
Wayne 63 Tolsia 35
Championship Game Varsity
George Washington 66 Lawrence Co. 37
All Tournament Team
George Washington —
Lawrence Co. — Kendra Spaulding and Lexi Ratliff
Wayne — Maddie Wilcox
Tolsia — Mariah Finley
On Monday night in the second game of the Boy/Girl Junior Varsity doubleheader it was the Lady Rebels racing by Grace Christian out of Huntington by the score of 53-24.
Tolsia was led by Kylea Pollinger with 12 points, Keyla Fox and Jace Litton with 10 points each, Elizabeth Johnson tallied 9 points, Taylor Ball 4 points, Trinity Muncy and Julie Boone 3 points each, Kenzie Young 2 points.
